2. T.J. Yeldon, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Some fantasy football owners have likely given up on T.J. Yeldon as a weekly option at the running back position, as Carlos Hyde joined the fray via a trade from the Cleveland Browns and Leonard Fournette has returned from a hamstring injury. The latter affects Yeldon’s value much more than the former, but the fact that neither back offers much value in the passing game means that Yeldon has some fantasy value to be gleaned.
Yeldon played well in Fournette’s absence, and the biggest development for his career was his emergence in the passing game. With Blake Bortles struggling with consistency for yet another season, Yeldon’s work as a safety valve has been key. He is on pace for a career-high in receiving yards after setting a career high with 50 receptions last season.
Last week, Yeldon caught five passes for 51 yards, and he notched seven receptions for over 80 yards in the Jaguars previous game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Yeldon has steadily provided value to fantasy owners in PPR leagues, and he should continue to do the same, even though he’s carried the ball just five times over the past two weeks.
While the Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t an easy matchup for a running back like Yeldon, his target numbers have been stable in the Jaguars offense, even with Fournette taking snaps away from the former Alabama standout. That means Yeldon joins Richard as a moderate-floor, receiving option at the running back position.